Your Opinion

Recently, more than 3,500 members of the hospice community sent a letter to President Obama asking for his immediate action to stop the Medicare rate cuts enacted by the previous administra

White House should stop cuts to hospice funding

To the Editor:

Recently, more than 3,500 members of the hospice community sent a letter to President Obama asking for his immediate action to stop the Medicare rate cuts enacted by the previous administration.

Hospice offers a dignified and compassionate way for a patient to spend precious time at home surrounded by loved ones at the end of life. Last year, more than 1.4 million Americans chose hospice, but access to this high quality end-of-life care is being threatened by funding cuts set to begin in a matter of weeks.

With hospice being a proven Medicare cost saver, these cuts will actually cost taxpayers more money than what the cuts were intended to save. A study by Duke University found that hospice reduces Medicare costs by more than $2,300 per patient, amounting to more than $2 billion in savings each year.

If action is not taken by the Obama Administration, hospice programs nationwide will be forced to scale back services or even close their doors permanently. Congress issued a moratorium on these cuts earlier this year, but it expires on Sept. 30. That's why action to permanently eliminate the funding cuts needs to be taken now.

In a time when policy makers are looking for models of high-quality and cost-efficient health care, they need to look no further than hospice. But, to ensure that this compassionate and high quality end-of-life care is available for future generations, we need to raise our voices and protest impending cut in services.

Please speak up for those who can't by urging Obama Administration to stop the hospice funding cuts. The White House Comment Line number is 202-456-1111.

Kevin Parks

Richmond

American Clean Energy and Security Act must be passed

To The Editor,

I am growing tired of all the global warming naysayers that insist Earth is cooling and that global warming is a hoax.

I would like to let people know that perpetuators of this myth are selectively using data to misrepresent the long term trends that our planet has been going through since the Industrial Revolution. Since scientific climate records have been kept there has been a long term rise in average global temperatures, and at the same time there has been a rise in CO2 emissions. In fact, in the last ten years, nine of those years were the hottest on record.

Now, recent reports from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration suggest that we will experience the hottest year on record before the end of 2010.

So why don't we continue to live in the past and encourage inefficient industries that are definitely destroying the environment? Why don't we continue to send money overseas to buy oil from countries that hate us? Why don't we continue to destroy entire mountains in western Virginia for some good ol' dirty coal?

I mean come on, wake up Virginia, we need to pass the American Clean Energy and Security Act, move away from fossil fuels and help improve the quality of life as we know it.

Undoubtedly, we stand to gain from this clean energy jobs legislation. If the legislation is passed it WILL improve our economy by providing millions of new jobs, reduce the amount of money that we are sending overseas for oil from countries that cater to terrorists, and actually save consumers money on their utility bills.

Jim Gould

Hopewell

SPCA advises you talk to neigbors if pets are causing problems

To the Editor:

Pet owners near the library may want to know about a poisoning earlier this month. Residents on Holly Avenue found a beautiful gray and white cat dying in the gutter. They rushed the cat (no tags) to an emergency veterinary hospital in Richmond, where the diagnosis was anti-freeze poisoning. The cat was mercifully put out of its misery.

Coincidences happen. Yet we recall a complaint to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals a few months ago when a man living in the same neighborhood told us he was going to "do something" about his neighbors' cats jumping on his new car. Of course we cautioned him and recommended he speak to his neighbors, buying a cover for his car and complain to Colonial Heights Animal Control if all else failed.

We at the SPCA urge citizens to talk to their neighbors if pets are causing problems. Poison and other cruel measures, when documented, will be prosecuted, as will dumping or abandoning any animal.

Pat Kile

President, SPCA of Peterburg

and Colonial Heights

What about reverse consequences?

To the Editor:

Did you ever notice that when you miss a car payment or a mortgage payment, the lending institution is quick to threaten you with all sorts of dire consequences? Your lateness has already been sent to a credit bureau. How come it doesn't work the other way?

I recently paid off a mortgage and was told it would take four to six weeks to process the paperwork. Do you suppose I could sue the lender for malpractice?

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